They are unlikely to grace any catwalk or adorn the figures of supermodels, but the latest in Islamic fashions got top billing from Iran's religious authorities in an exhibition and countering the influence of western clothing.

EuroPride 2006 was billed as a Pride of diversity. Watching the morning march, with its float of gay Muslim groups Safra & Imaan, and Beit Klal Yisrael, Black Lesbians UK, as well as trans, BDSM, & many other groups, the diversity motto seemed convincing.

The international press has pointed at France on 2 occasions in the past 2 years: during the controversy around the so-called 'islamic veil' at the beginning of year 2004 and during the riots in suburbs [1] in 2005. These events are intimately linked.